LAUREL, Miss. ( WHLT ) – Laurel police and firefighters are urging owners of vacant homes to secure their properties against squatters.

Police said they’ve seen an influx of homeless people breaking into and staying in empty homes.

Police Chief Tommy Cox said squatters are stealing from and destroying properties. On Saturday, a home on North 14th Avenue was destroyed in a fire that firefighters said was started by squatters.

“Keep it as secure as you can, either check on it regularly or have someone local check on it. Befriend someone in the neighborhood. The goal in every neighborhood is a retired person who’s at home a lot of the times and can keep an eye on it,” said Cox.

“Just because you look at it from the front side, it might look like it’s all intact on the front side. But when they enter, they can enter from the back side and leave a little opening where you’ll never know. You’ll ride by and think ‘Okay, my house is still boarded up.’ But they’re coming in from the back side. So, just kind of get out and walk around and check on it occasionally,” said Fire Chief Leo Brown.

Laurel police said several arrests have been made for squatting. If you believe someone is squatting in a home, do not confront them and call police.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.